Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra Auditions Postponed

The Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra (ASYO) auditions, set for September 20 and 21, 2014, will be postponed indefinitely due to communication from the American Federation of Musicians requesting that their members, including Atlanta Symphony Orchestra (ASO) musicians, not participate in any ASYO affiliated events.

The auditions are usually supervised by the musicians of the ASO. However, the contract between ASO management and ASOPA ended on September 6, 2014, resulting in a work stoppage. During the 2012 work stoppage ASO musicians continued with their support of the youth orchestra.

"The decision to postpone auditions this year was a very difficult one," said Mark Kent, Vice President of Education & Community Engagement at the ASO. "We have more than 400 students ready to audition this year, which is a record turn-out for ASYO auditions, but with auditions less than a week away, we feel that we have no other choice."

Communication with ASYO students, parents and all others affected by this postponement is underway. If a new agreement is reached between ASO management and ASOPA, auditions and concert dates will be reassessed.

The 2014-2015 season would mark the 40th Anniversary of the ASYO, with the first concert originally scheduled for November 22, 2014, at 1:30 p.m. It would be the first ASYO concert conducted by new ASYO Music Director Joseph Young.

Established in 1974, the Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra provides Atlanta's most talented and dedicated students an outlet to perform masterworks. Each year, more than 300 instrumentalists, ages 13-18, audition for one of 120 seats in the orchestra. The Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra presents a three concert series each year, and members have exclusive invitations to participate in readings and master classes with the top artists in the instrumental music industry.

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